2008 Ranked List
The ranked list of 2008 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.10/10
Working as both a crime epic and a superhero flick, The Dark Knight is an iconic piece of cinema and features one of the best villain portrayals of all time from a stellar Heath Ledger. - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJeremy RennerAnthony MackieBrian GeraghtyDuring the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.10/10
A visceral experience from start to finish, The Hurt Locker finds Kathryn Bigelow working from the height of her powers to shine a spotlight at a seldom seen but just as harrowing aspect of modern warfare. - DirectorDanny BoyleLoveleen TandanStarsDev PatelFreida PintoSaurabh ShuklaA teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?' When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.10/10
Sharply edited, stunningly filmed and suffused with a profound energy, Slumdog Millionaire finds Danny Boyle in top form in delivering an eminently tense rags-to-riches story. - DirectorGus Van SantStarsSean PennJosh BrolinEmile HirschThe story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.10/10
With Sean Penn giving a career-defining performance as the title character, Milk shines a humanistic spotlight on a movement and a bold political figure alike. - DirectorAndrew StantonStarsBen BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinIn the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.10/10
Challenging the very conventions of animated features as a whole, WALL-E proves that effortlessly charming and thematically astute. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.10/10
Blasting the doors off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man is one of the finest superhero origin movies and showcases a killer comeback turn from Robert Downey Jr. - DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittCate BlanchettTilda SwintonTells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with consequences.9/10
More poignant than your typical David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button nevertheless features a lifetime of strong Brad Pitt performances and a noteworthily peculiar story. - DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsKåre HedebrantLina LeanderssonPer RagnarOskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.9/10
Simultaneously grounding and reinvigorating the vampire mythos, Let the Right One In tells a stark yet hauntingly beautiful friendship tinged with darkness. - DirectorNicholas StollerStarsKristen BellJason SegelPaul RuddDevastated Peter takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex - and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.9/10
A fairly potent comedy but not without its sweet charms, Forgetting Sarah Marshall unites a diverse cast to deliver a multi-faceted film that hardly misses a beat. - DirectorMark OsborneJohn StevensonStarsJack BlackIan McShaneAngelina JolieTo everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.9/10
With themes that will transcend any demographic of viewer, Kung Fu Panda is a superior DreamWorks offering that’s as moving as it is funny. - DirectorJohn Patrick ShanleyStarsMeryl StreepPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Catholic school principal questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.9/10
Doubt can't always shake its theatrical roots, but a powerhouse cast is more than able to get across its weighty food for thought. - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.9/10
Its story structure might frustrate some viewers, but In Bruges still showcases Martin McDonagh’s penchant for irreverent characters and crisp dialogue. - DirectorBen StillerStarsBen StillerJack BlackRobert Downey Jr.Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.9/10
Reaffirming Ben Stiller as a writer-director to be reckoned with, Tropic Thunder rides a bombastic gaggle of comedians on way to kicking plenty of ass to boot. - DirectorByron HowardChris WilliamsStarsJohn TravoltaMiley CyrusSusie EssmanThe canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real.8/10
A fresh take on the superhero paradigm, Bolt isn’t Disney’s highest profile film but it is one of their more personable. - DirectorDavid KoeppStarsRicky GervaisGreg KinnearTéa LeoniBertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts.8/10
Headlining a perfectly cast Ricky Gervais, Ghost Town has a simple concept but does character work so good it’s sophisticated. - DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsSeth RogenJames FrancoGary ColeA process server and his marijuana dealer wind up on the run from hitmen and a corrupt police officer after he witnesses his dealer's boss murder a competitor while trying to serve papers on him.8/10
Aware that stoner comedies are only as good as their leads, Pineapple Express has ideal foils in Seth Rogen and James Franco as it chuckles right along with the viewer. - DirectorJimmy HaywardSteve MartinoStarsJim CarreySteve CarellCarol BurnettHorton the Elephant struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbors who refuse to believe it exists.8/10
Bringing Dr. Seuss’ distinctive visionary style to life like no film before it, Horton Hears a Who! is as effervescent and thoughtful as it needs to be. - DirectorStephen DaldryStarsKate WinsletRalph FiennesBruno GanzPost-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Berg re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial.8/10
Its decade-spanning narrative arc keeps the film a bit uneven, but the magnitude of good work done, particularly from Kate Winslet, also keeps The Reader a thoroughly engaging and intellectually stimulating romantic drama. - DirectorWoody AllenStarsRebecca HallScarlett JohanssonJavier BardemTwo friends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.8/10
Though a bit slight down the stretch, Vicky Christina Barcelona flexes Woody Allen's innate penchant for well-rounded characters and crisp dialogue. - DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsAnne HathawayRosemarie DeWittDebra WingerA young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past ten years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.8/10
Benefitting greatly from its ground-level filmmaking style, Rachel Getting Married is a believable and sobering family drama with a pair of heavyweight performances from Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt. - DirectorJohn CrowleyStarsAndrew GarfieldPeter MullanShaun EvansThe story of a young Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a violent crime he committed as a child.8/10
Though perhaps somewhat contrived, Boy A is still a harrowingly well-acted movie with a strong feature debut from Andrew Garfield. - DirectorDavid WainStarsPaul RuddSeann William ScottElizabeth BanksWild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program.8/10
Appropriately crass and sardonic, Role Models is the gold standard for the man-child movie thanks to the teaming of Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott. - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodBee VangChristopher CarleyAfter a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.8/10
Gran Torino wears its cantankerous heart on its sleeve, but it's still a personable and authentic character study starring a perfectly cast Clint Eastwood. - DirectorTimur BekmambetovStarsAngelina JolieJames McAvoyMorgan FreemanA frustrated office worker discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father's superhuman killing abilities.8/10
It could be argued that Wanted is thoroughly style over substance, but director Timur Bekmambetov proves that still leaves plenty of room for possibility. - DirectorSam MendesStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletChristopher FitzgeraldA young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children.8/10
The film as a whole doesn't always live up to its larger-than-life stars, but some predictably superb work from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are more than enough to keep Revolutionary Road compelling.